Congress claims Priyanka Gandhi arrested en route to UP's Lakhimpur Kheri

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the general secretary of the All India Congress Committee in charge of Uttar Pradesh, has been arrested en route to UP's Lakhimpur Kheri on Monday. Youth Congress National President Srinivas BV claimed that she was apprehended from Hargaon. Eight people were killed in the violence that erupted post-Union Minister for Home Ajay Mishra’s son having allegedly run his car over anti-farm law protestors.

Lucknow: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was en route to the violence-hit Lakhimpur Kheri district to visit the kin of the victims there, has been arrested from Hargaon on Monday, the party's youth wing national president Srinivas BV claimed. Eight people were killed in the violence that erupted post-Union Minister for Home Ajay Mishra’s son having allegedly run his car over anti-farm law protestors.

Vadra who had reached the Lucknow airport on Sunday evening following the incident was stopped by the police several times on her way to the district.

"Today's incident shows that this government is using politics to mow down farmers. This country is a country of farmers, not a fiefdom of BJP ideology. I'm not committing any crime by deciding to meet the victim's kin...Why are you stopping us? You should have a warrant...?," Vadra said.

Reacting to the developments, Congress' youth wing national president Srinivas BV tweeted, "Finally that happened, what was expected from BJP. In the democratic country of 'Mahatma Gandhi', the worshippers of 'Godse' have arrested our leader @priyankagandhi Ji who fought with heavy rains and police force to meet the 'Annadata', from Hargaon. This is just the beginning of the fight!! Kisan Ekta Zindabad."

Rahul tweets in support of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

"Priyanka, I know you won't hold back - they are stunned by your courage. In this non-violent fight for justice, we will make the country's Annadata win," Rahul Gandhi tweeted, using the hashtag 'No Fear'.

Internet stalled, Section 144 implemented

Meanwhile, the district administration has stalled internet services in the district and Section 144 has been implemented to curb any unwanted incidents. Security has also been beefed up in the area by the police.

BKU's Rakesh Tikait reaches violence-hit Lakhimpur Kheri

Rakesh Tikait, leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) reached the violence-hit Lakhimpur Kheri district early on Monday along with several supporters. The farmer leader earlier sharpened his attack on the BJP government in the state and demanded the resignation of the Union Minister for Home Ajay Mishra and CM Yogi. He further said that he will not leave the district until they get justice.

Farmers meet in Muzaffarnagar, call for protest at the collectorate

Following the clashes in the district, Naresh Tikait, the national president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), in Sisauli village of Muzaffarnagar late at night on Sunday, held a panchayat and called for a protest at the district collectorate on Monday.

Rahul Gandhi and several other opposition leaders including SP President Akhilesh Yadav, Jayant Chaudhary will leave for Lakhimpur on Monday morning. If sources are to be believed, the police will not allow the leaders to go to Lakhimpur until the situation gets better.

Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan of Azad Samaj Party detained

On the other hand, Azad Samaj Party founder Chandrashekhar Azad Ravanwas detained along with his companions in Sitapur Police Lines. Also, police are not allowing anyone to meet him. If sources are to be believed, the ASP leader who was arrested from Sitapur has been released at the Lucknow border at around 4.30 am. Earlier, AAP MP Sanjay Singh was also stopped at Sitapur on his way to Lakhimpur.

Eight people were killed in the violence that erupted in Lakhimpur Kheri, Additional Superintendent of Police, Arun Kumar Singh told media on Sunday evening. Several farmers were injured in the alleged car runover incident. The incident happened while anti-farm law protestors gathered in the area to take out a demonstration against UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya who was scheduled to visit the district. Protesting farmers alleged that Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Ajay Mishra’s son allegedly ran his car over anti-farm law protestors.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognizance of the clash which broke out in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday and has sent ADG Law and Order Prashant Kumar to Lakhimpur district to bring the situation under control. The farmers demonstrating against the farm laws had planned to show black flags to the deputy chief minister. They had broken the hoardings installed to welcome the Dy CM and also captured the helipad readied for him in Tikonia.